MARGAO
Chandor villagers quizzed senior railway officials on the proposed plans to lay as many as 10 new tracks as part of future development, even as local Cuncolim MLA Clafacio Dias was point-blank in admitting that the villagers have lost faith in the government and railway authorities over the double-tracking project.
Acquisition of church property also took the centre stage during discussions between railway officials led by Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd General Manager, Projects Sahoo and the villagers and the Cuncolim MLA on Friday at Chandor. While Sahoo claimed that the Railways had published a notification of the church property, no objection was received during the one-month period.
Locals, however, countered saying the Railways notified the notification at a time taking advantage of the Covid-19 pandemic. MLA Clafacio, however, has assured the villagers that he would take up the issue with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and delete the church property from the proposed acquisition.
The villagers also questioned the conflicting and contradictory statements made by the CM and the ruling party MLAs on keeping the double-tracking project on hold.
Clafacio, however, tried to reassure the villagers that the Chief Minister has only assured to soon get the Union ministers to the state before taking the decision to phase out coal handling in the state.
A villager Felix Furtado said the villagers are disappointed and unhappy with the outcome of the meeting, saying the Railway officials were not clear in their replies to the questions raised by villagers.
He said the government headed by the Chief Minister should directly open discussions with the people instead of deputing Railway officials.
Contrary to the perception that the Guirdolim panchayat has issued no objection for the double-tracking project, Deputy Sarpanch Brian Pereira asserted that no such NOC has been issued. He said the panchayat has only issued NOC for the underpass.
The Cuncolim MLA later told the media that the people have lost their faith in the government and the Railway officials, adding that people of Chandor fear that the Railways will lay 10 tracks in the future.
“Even I have no faith in the assurances given by Railway officials. Unless the Chief Minister gives the assurances, I have no guarantee that the Railways will stick to their assurances,” he added.
To a question, Clafacio said he would be happy only if coal handling and transportation are totally stopped. He, however, said the Railways have assured that they will lay two tracks for parking.
Meanwhile, RVNL General Manager Projects Sahoo told the media that the villagers have been assured that there’s no plan to lay 10 tracks in the village.
